One-touch type foldable tent frame

ABSTRACT

A one-touch type foldable tent frame including supporting dies, a tent cloth connected to the supporting dies, and a folding unit provided in the center of upper ends of the supporting dies for folding the supporting dies, the folding unit includes a fixing element connected to the supporting dies, and a supporting element mounted in the fixing element for pulling and spreading the supporting dies and fixing the supporting dies. The supporting element has a body part formed with a holding shoulder detachably mounted to a through hole of the fixing element, and a base element having base struts connected to the supporting dies at a lower end of the body part, wherein the body part and the base element are integrated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a one-touch type foldable tent frame.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, most foldable tents have unit frames of predetermined length, wherein each is formed of a plurality of joints to be folded by connection elements for the convenience of carrying or storage. The frames are extended straightly or folded by the unit length in the case of tent assembling or storage.

As disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 74-1393, a prior art tent which is portable and foldable, includes a plurality of upper struts inserted in an upper strut case and base struts inserted in a lower strut case, wherein the upper struts are connected to movable struts by connection pieces at an upper ends and the base struts are connected to the connecting pieces fixed in the middle of the upper struts. In the prior art, a strap connected to one of the upper struts, fixed to the center of the upper strut case, penetrates one of the lower struts, positioned in the center of the lower strut case.

The prior art tent as above has, however, disadvantages that the lower strut case, the central struts, and especially the strap are mounted in a tent cloth, so that the strap is to be pulled out by a user in order to spread the tent out while the tent is not spread out yet. Furthermore, after the tent is spread out, the strap is hanging down in the tent and the user may feel inconvenience by the contact with the hanging strap.

In order to resolve the above disadvantages, Korean Utility Model Application No. 91-24705 discloses fixing dies support supporting dies and a tent cloth via the coupling with a cover, wherein the fixing dies are coupled with movable dies to be set up in a short time by the operation of a holding part through the vertical motion of peak parts of the movable dies and handles.

The above prior art has, however, a disadvantage that the fixing dies, the movable dies and the holding part are separately structured from each other so that the assembling and operating performance is not high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention is derived to resolve the above and any other disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention, in a one-touch type foldable tent frame, a folding unit mounted in a central fixing unit to fold a tent, integrates a supporting element formed with a holding shoulder and a base element formed with base struts connected to a lower end of the supporting element, so that supporting rods may be mounted in a single assembling work, increasing workability. Further, a strap is mounted to the supporting element to be pulled outside the tent, so that the strap is not hanging down in the tent for securing the convenience of users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more apparent by describing embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing the entire structure of a one-touch type foldable tent frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining principal parts of the one-touch type foldable tent frame, wherein the one-touch type tent frame is in the folded situation;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining principal parts of the one-touch type foldable tent frame, wherein the one-touch type tent frame is in the spread situation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for showing a supporting element for a folding unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for showing a bottom part of a fixing element for the folding unit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a coupling situation between base struts and supporting dies according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanied drawings.

According to the present invention, in a one-touch type foldable tent frame including supporting dies 1, a cloth 2 connected to the supporting dies 1, and a folding unit 3 provided in the center of upper ends of the supporting dies 1 for folding the supporting dies, the folding unit 3 includes a fixing element 4 connected to the supporting dies 1, and a supporting element 5 mounted in the fixing element 4 for pulling and spreading the supporting dies 1 and fixing the supporting dies 1.

The fixing element 4 is connected to the supporting dies 1 by hinges 8 and formed with a through hole 41 penetrating the center thereof.

The supporting element 5 has a body part 51 detachably mounted to the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4, and a base element 52 having base struts 7 at a lower end of the body part.

The body part 51 is provided with a holding shoulder 51 a for fixing the supporting element 5 to the fixing element 4, wherein the holding shoulder 51 a is formed with a space part 51 b inside for the elasticity of the holding shoulder 51 a.

A strap 6 is connected to an upper end of the supporting element 5 and extended to the outside via the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4 for spreading the supporting dies 1.

Now, the operation of the one-touch type foldable tent frame will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

In order to set up the tent, as the strap 6 is pulled upward, the supporting element 5 fixed to the strap 6 is lifted and the base element 52 integrated to the supporting element 5 lifts. Simultaneously, the base struts 7 connected to the base element 52 are spread out and the supporting dies 1 are spread out accordingly.

If the strap 6 is pulled fully, the body part 51 of the supporting element 5 is exposed outside the tent cloth 2 via the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4. At this time, the holding shoulder 51 a is captured by an upper end of the body part 51, so that the supporting element 5 becomes fixed to the fixing element 4. Therefore, the supporting dies 1 are kept spread out not to be folded.

Since the supporting element 5 integrates the body part 51 and the base element 52, the manufacturing steps thereof become minimized. Furthermore, the body part 51 and the base element 52 are not separated from each other, thereby increasing the safety of the tent.

In order to strike the tent, as the holding shoulder 51 a is pressed by the user, the holding shoulder 51 a is retracted inward by the space part 51 b. Then, the body part 51 of the supporting element 5 escapes from the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4, so that the supporting element 5 becomes lowered. Accordingly, the base struts 7 and the supporting dies 1 become folded and the tent is folded.

As above, the strap 6 is pulled outside the tent for lifting or lowering the supporting element 5 when setting up or striking the tent. Therefore, the user may set up or strike the tent outside the tent conveniently. Furthermore, the strap is exposed outside the tent after the tent is set up, so that the user is not bothered by the strap in the tent.

As described hereinabove, according to the present invention, a supporting element integrates a body part having a holding shoulder and a base element having base struts, so that the supporting element may be stably fixed to a fixing element which is connected to supporting dies. Therefore, the workability for setting up or striking the tent and the stability of the tent may be maximized. Furthermore, a strap for lifting or lowering the supporting element is exposed outside. Therefore, the user may be free from the bothering of the strap in the tent that is set up.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanied drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention hereinafter defined, they should be construed as being included therein. 

1. A one-touch type foldable tent frame including supporting dies to be folded in an umbrella shape, a cloth connected to the supporting dies, and a folding unit provided in the center of an upper end of the supporting dies for folding the supporting dies, wherein the folding unit comprises a fixing element to be connected to the supporting dies, and a supporting element mounted in the fixing element for pulling and spreading the supporting dies and fixing the spread supporting dies.
 2. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing element is connected to the supporting dies via hinges and has a through hole penetrating the center thereof.
 3. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting element includes a body part, and a base element provided with struts at a lower end of the body part to be connected to the supporting dies.
 4. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a body part of the supporting element includes a holding shoulder for fixing the supporting element to the fixing element, wherein the holding shoulder is provided with a space part inside for the elasticity of the holding shoulder.
 5. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a body part of the supporting element is connected to a strap at an upper end to be exposed to the outside via a through hole of the fixing element, wherein the strap is to pull the supporting element for spreading the supporting dies. 